Curtain-stretcher.



J. o. HOLM UIST.

CURTAIN STBETUHER. APPLIUATIOK FILED JAN. 17, 1911. v-

' Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES INVENTOR' Jew/2 0.192 23"? 8y 3 9 mqnuzn I J. 0. HOLMQUIST. GURTAIN STRETCHBR.

I 1 11101111011 FILED 11111.17, 1911. 1,009,5 1 7, Patented NOV. 21, 1911.

3 BHEETS-SKEET 3.

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WITNESSES 1 INVEIVTUR ATTORNEYS v mafimm W@ M COLUMBIA PLANbGRAPH Gil-,WASHINQTON, n.c.

JOHN OTTO HOLMQUIST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed. January 17, 1911. Serial No. 603,051.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, J OHN O. HOLMQUIST, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Curtain-Stretcher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to stretchers for curtains and analogous articles, and has reference more particularly to a device of this class which comprises a frame including jointed bars, a brace member movably associated with these bars, and means whereby the bars, when extended, are constrained to assume positions at right angles with respect to the brace member.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and durable stretcher for drying curtains and for other, similar and analogous purposes, which can be inexpensively manufactured, which can be folded into a compact form for shipment or storage, which can be easily and expeditiously manipulated, which is adjustablein order to adapt it for use with articles of different dimensions, and which is so constructed that i the frame when extended for use, necessarily assumes a substantially rectangular form, that is a form, with the bars constituting the frame at substantially right angles with respect to each other.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, transverse section showing a joint of one of the frame bars; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the joint; Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 2, the view being taken on a different section line, and also showing a joint; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, inverted plan view of the -joint; Fig. 6 is an enlarged, perspective view, showing one of the frame bars folded, and disclosing the construction of the joint, part of the structure being broken away; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section showing the connection between two of the bars of the frame.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be clearly understood that while the device is particularly useful as a drying and stretching frame for lace curtains after these have been laundered, the invention can also be employed for other purposes, in which it is desirable to provide an adjustable knock down frame upon which fabrics or the like can be stretched for difierent purposes. It is well-known in the art, to provide a frame having jointed bars which are adjustably connected so that the frame when extended, is substantially rectangular and can be taken apart or folded into compact form. However, ordinary frames of this kind unless they are very carefully assembled and adjusted, have a decided tendency to assume forms other than rectangular, and as the curtains and other fabrics are normally rectangular, there is a resulting likelihood that the articles will be distorted. The disadvantage of this is obvious. In my invention however, I provide means, as will appear more clearly hereinafter, whereby the frame is constrained, when extended, to assume a substantially rectangular form, so that there is practically no possibility that the curtains or other articles will become misshapen after being stretched upon the frame. Certain of the details of construction shown for example herewith, form no part of my invention, and can be varied in accordance with individual preference and special conditions, without departing from the underlying spirit of the invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I employ a frame comprising side bars 10, and end bars 11. The bars themselves may be of any suitable cross-sectional form, and are preferably" provided with linear graduations 12. The bars are supplied with suitable projections, pins or the like (not shown), by means of which the curtains or other articles are attached to the frame. At the extremities, the respective bars are provided with slots 13 and 14 through which extend bolts 15 having wing nuts 16. These bolts serve for removably connecting the side and the end bars in the usual manner. The length and width of the frame can be adjusted within limits corresponding to the lengths of the slots, as will be easily understood.

The side bars 10, are jointed and each consists of two similar sections 17. In the following description, for convenience, ref- Patented Nov. 21, 1911.

erence is had to a single side bar only. The sections of this bar, at the joint, are connected by a hinge 18. This hinge comprises a plate or leaf 19 secured at the under side of one section, and a plate or leaf 20, secured at the under side of the other section. The hinge leaves have extensions 21 and 22 respectively, at which they are pivotally connected by means of a suitable rivet 23. The latter is extended a substantial distance below the hing-e for a purpose which will appear hereinafter, and. at the extended extremity has a head 24. The section of the bar provided with the leaf 19 has at the end, a transverse groove or recess 25 of substantially semi-circular cross-section, which registers with an edge recess 26 of the leaf. A spring tongue 27 is secured at the upper surface of the section, by means of a screw or rivet 28, or in any other suitable manner. It has an offset part 29 at the free end, which extends beyond the extremity of the bar section, and is provided with a bifurcated, projecting extremity 30. It is transversely offset to form a recessed rib or projection 31. The recess formed by a bifurcation of the tongue end registers substantially with the groove 25. The other bar section has a spring tongue 32 secured thereto by means of a screw or rivet 33, or in any other suitable manner, and projects beyond the end of the section. At its extending end, it is transversely offset to form a ribor projection 34. The end face of the bar section is provided with a groove or recess 35 corresponding to the recess 25 and registering with the same when the bar sections are alined, that is, when the bar is extended.

A bolt 36 has its head 37 secured in an opening of the hinge leaf 20, and extends upwardly within the recess 35, through an opening 38 formed in the tongue 32, at the transverse rib of the same. At the lower end, the bolt has a roughened or ribbed sec tion 39 which holds it securely in the recess, against turning. A butter-fly or wing nut 40 is mounted upon the threaded part of the bolt.

When the side bar 1s extended, that is, when the bar sect-ions 17 are alined, the recesses 25 and 35 are in juxtaposition. The outer portion of the hinge leaf 20 is ofiset to receive between it and the bar section the extended part of the leaf 19, the bolt being received in the edge recess 26 of the same. The spring tongue 29, when the bar is ex tended, engages over the tongue 32, the upwardly offset part 31 seating upon the rib 34 of the tongue 32. The bifurcated end of the tongue 29 receives the bolt. By turning down the butter-fly nut, the tongues can be clamped together so that the bar sections are locked in alinement.

The hinge leaves have formed therein in cisions to permit the parts 41 to be outwardly disposed to constitute stop projections. These stops are so arranged that when the bar is extended they engage at opposite sides of a cross-bar or brace member 42 which extends transversely of the frame. The hinge rivet 24 has its extended part received in a longitudinal slot 43 of the brace member. The slots of the brace member are proportioned to permit the lateral adjustment of the side bars within the limit-s of the slots 14 of the end bars. The stop projections 41 are located at oortions of the hinge leaves remote from tie jointed connection between the hinge leaves. The arrangement is such that when the side bars are extended with the stop projections engaging at the sides of the brace member, the side bars are necessarily arranged at sub stantially right angles with respect to the latter.

The hinge leaves may be secured to the side bar sections in any suitable manner, for example by means of the screws or rivets 28, with the assistance of upturned flanges 44 and 45, engaging at the sides of the bar sec tions.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a frame including jointed bars, other bars connecting said first bars, a brace member associated with said frame, and pivoted hinges forming the joints of said first bars and having means adapted to become operative automatically so that said jointed bars when extended are constrained to assume positions at substantially right angles with respect to said brace member.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a frame having jointed side bars, and end bars adjustably connecting said side bars, and a brace member extending transversely of said frame and slidably and pivotally connected with said side bars, said side bars having means automatically engaging said brace member when said side bars are extended, whereby said side bars are constrained to assume positions of predetermined angularity relative to said brace member when said side bars are extended.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a frame including side bars consist ing of jointed sections adapted to be arranged in alinement when said bars are extended, end bars adjustably connecting said side bars, and a cross brace pivotally connectedwith said side bars, said side bars having stops for automatically engaging said cross brace when said side bars are moved into their extended positions, whereby said side bars when extended are at substantially right angles with respect to said cross brace.

' 4. A device of the class described, comprising a frame having side bars and end bars adjustably connected, each of said side bars consisting of two sections, a hinge connecting said sections of each of said side bars, and a cross brace adjustab-ly associated with said hinges of said side bars, said hinges comprising pivoted leaves each having a stop adapted to engage said cross brace, whereby said side bars when extended, are held at substantially right angles with respect to said cross brace.

5. A device of the class described, comprising a frame having side bars and end bars adjustably connected, each of said side bars consisting of two sections, a connecting hinge having leaves secured to said sections of each of said side bars, and a cross brace adjustably associated with said hinge leaves of said side bars, said hinges having stops adapted to engage said cross brace when said hinges are extended, whereby said side bars when extended, are held at substantially right angles with respect to said cross brace, each of said side bar sections having at the end thereof adjacent to said hinge, a locking member, said locking members being adapt-- ed to engage to secure said side bar sections in alinement when said side bars are extended.

6. A device of the class described, comprising a frame having side bars and end bars adjustably connected, each of said side bars consisting of two sections, a hinge connecting said sections of each of said side bars, said hinges comprising pivotally connected leaves each having a stop, and a cross brace adjustably associated with said hinges of said side bars, and adapted to be engaged by said stops, whereby said side bars when extended are held atsubstantially right angles with respect to said brace, said side bar sections having at the joints thereof, locking devices each consisting of a member having a rib and an offset spring member having a groove adapted to receive said rib, and a clamping bolt for holding said members together, each of said members being associated with one of said sections of one of said side bars.

7. A device of the class described, comprising a frame including side bars, each consisting of two' sections, a hinge connecting said sections of each of said side bars, said hinges comprising leaves each secured to one of said sections and having at the edges upturned flanges engaging at the edges of said sections, a cross brace associated with said side bars, and stops on said hinges for engaging said cross brace when said side bars are extended.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN OTTO HOLMQUIST.

Witnesses:

JOHN M. PUoG, WVILLIAM SCHULTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

